DIY Rustic Wood Headboard

Hello you, and welcome to inside the mind of an Obsessive Compulsive Designer

I have never had a headboard prior to this custom one I made (with the help of the fiancé and some power tools). I have always wanted a headboard but could never find one I liked. Then one day it hit me. Duh! Just make my own! It wasn’t a hard process by any means but I am a perfectionist. I may have taken a few extra nonessential steps along the way to ensure we made the exact headboard I was envisioning. For those of you who have been around here since the beginning, you may remember my very first blog post. It was a DIY jewelry holder that was very similar to the piece I wanted to show you today!

First, I started out with a scaled rendering of how I wanted the pieces laid out. Once I tweaked the design to my liking, I labeled all of the measurements

Cut down your 2×6 boards to your specified dimensions

Cut your plywood backing to the overall size of your headboard

Once you have your pieces cut, attach them to the plywood by using a nail gun (we found this to be the easiest)

Once all of your front facing pieces are attached, attach the two vertical pieces that will attach to your bedframe (we took special care that we knew exactly where these posts would line up with the frame

Give your headboard a good sanding (remember you will have your head close or on this many nights)

Apply your DIY stain/store bought stain (we used both to give the headboard a more gray appearance)

Line the headboard up with your bedframe and drill holes where you will need to attach the bolts

Attach the bolts and secure the headboard to the wall if necessary (depending on the height)

This DIY was a little lengthier and hands on than the jewelry holder but it is so worth it. If you have all the tools on hand, like I did, then this headboard will cost you close to nothing. It could be even cheaper if you have the wood on hand. (For reference, I made my headboard queen sized.) This DIY cost me about $100 for a gorgeous custom headboard that people normally pay hundreds, even thousands, for. I’m so happy with how it turned out! I think it looks amazing. It’s better than store bought because I got to take the time to make it exactly how I wanted, from design to the finish. I love it. Let me know if you would like to see other DIY’s soon and I can definitely arrange that. Have a great day!